DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Status of the Fisheries in Michigan Waters of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, 2016

Jan -Michael Hessenauer and Todd Wills Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Fisheries Research Biologist Mike Thomas (retired) holds a large Lake St. Clair Lake Sturgeon

Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station Website: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_52259_10951_11304---,00.html

FISHERIES DIVISION

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 1

Highlights for 2016

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the status of the fisheries in the Great Lakes and connecting waters of Southeast Michigan. Sources of information used in compiling this report include creel surveys, charter boat reports, an angler diary program, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Master Angler program, commercial fishery records, and fisheries survey results. Some of the highlights described in detail include:

• Michigan non-charter anglers captured over 1.5 million Lake Erie Yellow Perch and harvested over 1.2 million of these fish. This is the most fish harvested since 1989 and the second most recorded since 1986. • The 2016 non-charter angler harvest rate for Lake Erie yellow perch was the highest recorded since 1986, while the walleye harvest rate was below the long-term average. • Michigan non-charter anglers on Lake Erie caught 71,138 Walleye and harvested 65,816 of those fish. • Lake St. Clair continues to be the premier Michigan water for trophy Muskellunge and Smallmouth Bass based on the number of entries recorded in the Master Angler program in 2016. • The first annual MDNR nearshore electrofishing survey revealed excellent size distribution of Lake St. Clair panfish populations. • Brook Silversides and Emerald Shiners were the numerically dominant species in the 2016 nearshore electrofishing survey. • The 2016 catch of yearling Walleye in the MDNR’s Lake Erie assessment gill nets was the fourth highest in the time series, indicating an extremely robust 2015 year class which should result in impressive catch rates of Walleye in Michigan waters of Lake Erie and the St. Clair-Detroit River System for years to come.

About the Lake St. Clair Sport Fishery Summary

Fisheries Research Station Information on angler catch rates, effort, and

The Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station is a opinion of Michigan’s sport fisheries is collected unit of the Research Section of the MDNR with angler surveys. An angler survey can be Fisheries Division. The station conducts research conducted on-site where anglers are interviewed and stock assessment on fish populations of Lake or counted while on the water, or off-site when Erie, the St. Clair-Detroit River System, and anglers are interviewed by mail or telephone. On- Saginaw Bay. Results of this work are instrumental site methods, also known as creel surveys, have in fisheries management decisions affecting these been used extensively by the MDNR on various waters. The station works closely with fisheries Michigan waters to estimate angler effort, harvest, managers in the MDNR’s Lake Erie Management and catch. In Southeast Michigan, on-site creel Unit and routinely collaborates in joint projects with survey data are collected each year from the non- other state and federal partner agencies, local charter recreational fishery of Lake Erie. An on- units of government, non-government site creel survey was also conducted on Lake St. organizations, academic institutions, and Clair during 2016. Charter boat harvest, release, stakeholder groups. Federal Sport Fish and angling effort are also recorded by Lake Erie Restoration (SFR) Program dollars provide and St. Clair-Detroit River System charter support for the majority of the station’s assessment operators, who are required to report this activities. The SFR Program provides grant funds information to the MDNR on a monthly basis. to restore and better manage America's fishery resources through excise taxes on the purchase of Another example of an off-site angler survey is an fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine angler diary program, where anglers keep their fuels, import duties, and interest. More information own records of angling activity and success. A on the SFR Program can be found at: voluntary Sport Fishery Diary Program is used to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantProg collect catch and effort data for recreational fishing rams/SFR/SFR.htm. on Lake St. Clair. The program was initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) in 1985 to monitor trends in the Muskellunge catch rate for Lake St. Clair. Five years later the program was expanded to include

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 2

other species. The MDNR became involved in the 12% of the harvest (Figure 3). The average length program in 1993. Since that time, the program has of Walleye harvested in the sport fishery in 2016 been a cooperative effort between the OMNRF was 19.3 inches. and MDNR to provide annual estimates of catch rates for the major sport fish species in Lake St. Yellow Perch harvest was dominated by age 2 and Clair. The MDNR Master Angler program, age 3 fish (2013 and 2014 year-classes), which in established in 1973 to recognize anglers who combination, accounted for 88% of the total catch unusually large fish, also provides harvest (Figure 3). Average lengths of harvested information on trends in voluntary reports of age 2 and 3 Yellow Perch were 7.9 inches and 9.0 “trophy” catches throughout the Great Lakes inches respectively. The overall average length of waters of Southeast Michigan. Yellow Perch harvested in the sport fishery in 2016 was 8.7 inches. The mean length-at-age for Yellow Lake Erie non-charter recreational fishery Perch taken in the Michigan sport fishery increased for age 4 and age 5 fish in 2016 relative The annual creel survey conducted by the MDNR to 2015 (Figure 4). during 2016 produced a total harvest estimate of 1,297,684 fish (Table 1) for Michigan's Lake Erie Lake St. Clair non-charter recreational fishery non-charter sport fishery, representing a substantial increase when compared to harvest in In 2016 the MDNR conducted a creel survey of the 2015 (461,826) and 2014 (222,835). Yellow Perch American waters of Lake St. Clair. This survey is alone accounted for 94% of the total harvest, the first characterization of recreational fishing on reflecting their continued importance to the sport Lake St. Clair since 2002-2005. Recreational fishery. Non-charter anglers harvested an anglers spent 553,457 hours fishing the American estimated 65,816 Walleye in Michigan waters of waters of Lake St. Clair and harvested a total of Lake Erie, which was very similar to the harvest in 117,658 fish (Table 2). Yellow Perch were the 2015 (65,740). Harvest rates of Largemouth and most commonly harvested species in the Smallmouth Bass by Michigan’s Lake Erie anglers American waters of Lake St. Clair during 2016, remained low with an estimated harvested of less representing 63% of the total harvest. A total of than 200 fish. Angler effort in 2016 increased 35% 74,497 Yellow Perch were harvested, yielding a compared to 2015 (Figure 1), likely driven by harvest rate of 0.14 fish/angler hour. Non-charter outstanding catch rates of Yellow Perch. The anglers harvested a total of 13,396 Walleye in Walleye harvest rate in 2016 (0.13 fish/angler 2016, representing a harvest rate of 0.02 hour) decreased by 35% from 2015, dipping below fish/angler hour. Over 191,000 black bass the long term mean of 0.22 fish/angler hour (Figure (Largemouth and Smallmouth combined) were 2). The Yellow Perch harvest rate (2.43 fish/angler captured in the American waters of Lake St. Clair, hour) increased 54% compared to 2015, and 98% were released. Additionally in 2016, representing the highest catch rate in the time 1,919 Muskellunge were captured and none were series (Figure 2). Trends in angler effort and observed harvested. harvest rates for Walleye and Yellow Perch since the mid-1980s suggest that the level of angler Similar to Lake Erie, biological data were collected effort on Lake Erie is affected by many factors in from Walleye and Yellow Perch during the 2016 addition to harvest rates. Other factors, including on-site Lake St. Clair creel survey. The age weather, prey fish abundance, fishing success on composition of harvested Walleye was dominated other Great Lakes waters, fuel expenses, and by age 2 (2014 year-class), which accounted for regional economic conditions have likely 44% of the harvest (Figure 5). Age 10 and older contributed to the comparatively low level of fishing Walleye accounted for only 4% of the harvest. The effort since 1991. average length of Walleye harvested in the sport fishery in 2016 was 17.2 inches. Biological data were collected from Walleye and Yellow Perch during the 2016 on-site creel survey. Yellow Perch harvest was dominated by age 3 fish The age composition of harvested Walleye was (2013 year-class), which accounted for 51% of the dominated by ages 2 through 5 (2011 to 2014 total harvest (Figure 5). The average length of year-classes), representing 76% of the harvest; harvested age 3 Yellow Perch was 7.7 inches. The though the 2013 year class (age 3) single- overall average length of yellow perch harvested handedly made up 30% of the catch. Similar to last in the sport fishery in 2016 was 8.2 inches. year, age 10 and older Walleye accounted for only

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 3

Charter fishery caught, two were harvested for an overall release rate of 99.8% (Table 4). In 2016, Michigan charter boat operators reported a total harvest of 46,303 fish of all species from The number of reported Michigan charter Lake Erie. In combination, Yellow Perch and excursions on Lake Erie increased 35% in 2016, Walleye accounted for over 99% of the total reaching the highest levels observed since 2007 harvest. The Walleye harvest rate in 2016 was up but still well below the levels reported prior to 2004 from 2015, but remained slightly below the long- (Figure 8). In 2016, charter boat excursions on the term mean harvest rate of 0.72 fish/angler hour St. Clair-Detroit River System increased 20% from (Figure 6). The Yellow Perch harvest rate 2015. This continues a trend of increased charter increased substantially from 2015, exceeding the activity since 2012 on the St. Clair-Detroit River long-term mean of 0.65 fish/angler hour for the 7th System. The reporting requirement of catch and consecutive year (Figure 6). The charter boat release fishing implemented in 2010 may explain targeted Walleye harvest rate of 0.86 fish/angler some of the increased activity that was reported; hour (Table 3) was nearly 7 times higher than however, it is likely that the continuing upward those estimated for non-charter anglers in 2016 trend in charter excursions since 2012 represents (0.13 fish/angler hour), while the targeted Yellow a true increase in charter activity. The charter Perch charter harvest rate of 7.3 fish/angler hour fishing activity on the St. Clair-Detroit River was three times higher than the rate for non- System is primarily catch-and-release oriented, charter boat anglers (2.4 fish/angler hour). and was largely unreported prior to 2010 making long-term trends in charter effort difficult to assess Beginning in 2010, Michigan charter boat in the St. Clair system. operators were required to report catch-and- release fishing activity as well as harvest. For Lake Sport Fishery Diary and Master Angler programs Erie, charter operators reported releasing 17,067 fish of all species in 2016. About 64% of the Muskellunge catch rates derived from the Sport released fish were Walleyes, suggesting a high Fishery Diary Program on Lake St. Clair improved abundance of sub-legal sized fish associated with through the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, but were the strong 2014 and 2015 year-classes. Lake Erie more variable in the 2000’s. In 2016, the catch rate charter boat operators reported the catch and decreased to the lowest level observed since the release of 29 Muskellunge in 2016, more than late 1980’s (Figure 9). The decrease in doubling the reported catch and release of Muskellunge catch rates for 2016 continues a Muskellunge in Lake Erie during 2015 (13 fish). pattern of increased variability in catch rates over the past 17 years. We suspect this increased For the St. Clair-Detroit River System, charter boat variability may be more reflective of the lower anglers reported a harvest of 14,738 fish of all number of Muskellunge anglers involved in the species. Walleye (56%) and Yellow Perch (23%) diary program, than of actual changes in the made up the bulk of the harvest. In 2016, the Muskellunge population. charter boat harvest rate for Walleye increased when compared to 2015 and For years, the quality of the Lake St. Clair was similar to the long-term mean Walleye harvest Muskellunge fishery was reflected in the MDNR’s rate of 0.20 fish/angler hour (Figure 7). The Yellow Master Angler program. Lake St. Clair continued Perch harvest rate increased slightly from 2015, to dominate the statewide Master Angler entries but remained well below the long-term mean for Muskellunge in 2016, with 29 of the 49 total harvest rate of 0.45 fish/angler hour (Figure 7). entries originating from the St. Clair system. However, the number of Lake St. Clair Charter operators on the St. Clair-Detroit River Muskellunge Master Angler entries has generally System reported releasing 28,205 fish. declined since 2000 (Figure 10). We suspect this Smallmouth Bass (56%) and “other species” which is largely a reflection of waning interest in includes White Perch, White Bass, Freshwater submitting Master Angler entries for Muskellunge Drum, and Channel Catfish (27%) accounted for less than 50 inches in length, which has become a the majority of the fish that were captured and local benchmark for “trophy” status for released. For charters targeting Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge from the St. Clair-Detroit River charter operators released 93% of the 16,564 fish System. By all accounts, the Muskellunge caught in 2016. Of the 1,228 Muskellunge reported population continues to provide excellent fishing opportunities. We expect that the following factors

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 4

will continue to contribute to a strong Muskellunge nets at two fixed (index) locations in western Lake population and fishery in Lake St. Clair and the Erie each fall, as part of the interagency walleye connecting waters: 1) a 44 inch minimum size limit assessment program. In 2014, a bottom trawl (MSL) for Ontario waters and a 42 inch MSL for survey was added to our standard assessments of Michigan waters of the St. Clair system; 2) physical the Michigan waters of Lake Erie in order to and biological changes in the lake such as clearer measure recruitment of important fish species. water and increased aquatic plant growth resulting Trap nets have been deployed in Anchor Bay of in improved habitat for Muskellunge; and, 3) Lake St. Clair each spring since 2002 to sample extensive voluntary practice of catch-and-release adult fish populations, while juvenile and forage fishing for Muskellunge in Lake St. Clair by both fish populations in the lake have been assessed charter and non-charter anglers. with bottom trawls each spring and fall since 1996. A setline survey has been used to monitor the lake Statistics from the Master Angler program indicate sturgeon population in the North Channel of the St. that Lake St. Clair is one of the premier Clair River since 1997; beginning in 2013 the waterbodies in the state for trophy Smallmouth MDNR modified its bottom trawl to increase its Bass, with 13 entries in the Master Angler program success in capturing lake sturgeon in Lake St. in 2016. This represents a substantial decline from Clair. Unfortunately, complications associated with 2012 when over 40 Master Angler Smallmouth the repower of our primary work platform, the R/V Bass were entered (Figure 11). However, the Channel Cat , resulted in the cancellation of the continued strong representation of Lake St. Clair annual trap net survey and greatly reduced the Smallmouth Bass in the statewide Master Angler amount of trawling conducted in Lake St. Clair in program is likely a reflection of an abundance of 2016. However, in 2016 we also added a new trophy-size Smallmouth Bass in the lake, a high survey utilizing our electrofishing boat, the R/V degree of angler effort targeting the species, and Mooneye , to sample the nearshore fish community widespread practice of catch-and-release among of Lake St. Clair. Smallmouth Bass anglers. Lake Erie Commercial Fishery Summary Eight sites, including the two index gill net stations, Since 1979 the commercial fishery in Michigan were sampled during the 2016 Lake Erie bottom waters of Lake Erie has primarily harvested rough trawl fish community survey. A total of 5,325 fish fish species using seines in the shallow representing 20 different species were captured embayments along the shoreline, although a during 8 trawl tows for an average catch-per-effort small-mesh trap net license has been active since (CPE) of 710 fish/10-minute tow. Age 0 Yellow 2006. In 2016, a total of two Michigan commercial Perch had the highest average CPE (212 fish/10- fishing licenses were active on Lake Erie. The minute tow) for forage-sizedd fish, followed by 2016 commercial harvest included 11 types of fish age-0 White Perch (192 fish/10-minute tow), Mimic for a total of 824,437 pounds (Table 5). In Shiner (84 fish/10-minute tow), Trout Perch (37 combination, Common Carp (23%), White Bass fish/10-minute tow), and Spottail Shiner (11 fish/ (20%), Channel Catfish (19%) and Goldfish (11%) 10-minute tow). Round Goby, Gizzard Shad, accounted for 73% of the total harvest by weight. White Bass, Brook Silversides, Freshwater Drum, The total value of the 2016 Lake Erie commercial Logperch, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Tubenose harvest from Michigan waters was estimated at Goby, Silver Chub, and Rock Bass were also $440,918 (Table 5). The 2016 harvest of Channel captured. The non-forage size (adult) catch was Catfish was the highest reported since 1981 (Table dominated by Yellow Perch (78.5 fish/10-minute 6). The harvest of Goldfish was the 3 rd highest tow), followed by White Perch (54.5 fish/10-minute since 1981. tow), Freshwater Drum (32.8 fish/10-minute tow), and Walleye (10.6 fish/10-minute tow). Also Summary of Fisheries Surveys captured were Channel Catfish (8.9 fish/10-minute tow), White Sucker (1.1 fish/10-minute tow) and The MDNR conducts a number of annual Quillback, Rock Bass, White Bass, Smallmouth assessments using a variety of gear types to target Bass, and Common Carp (all less than 1 fish/10- the diverse fish communities present in Lake Erie minute tow). and the St. Clair-Detroit River System. Since 1978, the Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research In 2016 a total of 946 fish representing 13 species Station has fished variable mesh multi-filament gill were captured during four net lifts at two index

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 5

sites completed during the annual October gill net A total 3,520 individual fish representing 36 unique survey in Michigan waters of Lake Erie. Walleye species were measured. Brook Silversides and (51%), and White Perch (26%), comprised over Emerald Shiners were numerically dominant, each three-quarters of the catch by number, followed by making up roughly 20% of the total catch by Gizzard Shad (9%), Channel Catfish (8%), White number. Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Bass (4%), Yellow Perch (1%), and Freshwater Brook Silversides were the most widely distributed Drum (1%). The remaining six species (Shorthead species as each was encountered at all 13 Redhorse, Longnose Gar, Common Carp, sampling locations. Only one age 0 Muskellunge Pumpkinseed, Quillback and White Sucker) was captured for a catch rate of 0.15 fish/hour, accounted for less than 1% of the total catch. down substantially from the 6.6 fish/hour catch rate observed in 2015 (the 2015 survey targeted age 0 The average Walleye catch rate for the two index Muskellunge only). Panfish populations including sites (121 fish/lift) in 2016 more than doubled from Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and Bluegill had 2015 (Figure 12) and was at the highest observed length frequency distributions characterized by since 2005. The increase was due to the many individuals over six inches in total length contribution of the 2014 and 2015 year-classes, (Figure 14) suggesting favorable fishing which accounted for a combined 92% of the total opportunities. Moving forward the nearshore catch (2014: 22% of the catch, 2015: 70% of the survey will provide a strong basis for evaluating catch). The average catch rate of yearling Walleye change in size structure and recruitment of these (84.3 fish/lift) was roughly double the catch rate important fish species. observed in 2015 and well above the average of 36 fish/lift for the 1978-2015 time series (Figure A total of 185 Lake Sturgeon were collected during 13). assessment surveys on Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River in 2016. Captured Lake Sturgeon Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River averaged 40.8 inches in total length, with a range from 20.6 inches to 70.7 inches. A total of 174 Despite the cancellation of the 2016 trap net Lake Sturgeon were caught in the St. Clair River survey in Anchor Bay, 469 Smallmouth Bass were during the annual setline survey, while 11 fish were sampled by electrofishing primarily along the “Mile caught with trawls in Lake St. Clair during July – Roads” area east of St. Clair Shores. Of the 469 September. The length frequency for setline and fish sampled, 456 were tagged with jaw tags. The trawl-captured Lake Sturgeon in 2016 illustrates average length of all sampled fish was 16.7 inches, the higher proportion of large individuals in the and their ages ranged from 3 to 13 years old. trawl catch in the lake (Figure 15). We suspect this Electrofishing will be included as a source of fish reflects a difference in the actual size structure of for jaw tagging in addition to the annual trap net the Lake Sturgeon present in the lake during the survey during future years. summer, rather than a product of differences in size bias between the two survey gear types. The first annual nearshore electrofishing survey Survey setlines were modified in 2003 to include was conducted at the end of October and small hooks, providing a less biased sample of the beginning of November, 2016. The purpose of this Lake Sturgeon population. In addition to sampling survey is to provide insight into the population size Lake Sturgeon, each setline is also set with two structure and abundance of fish species such as minnow traps, one attached to each end. These panfish, largemouth bass, and forage fishes that traps target Northern Madtom, a small catfish are associated with nearshore areas and may not species endangered in the State of Michigan and be adequately captured by our other survey Province of Ontario. Each trap is baited with methods. Thirteen sampling stations located earthworms, which experimentation in past years around the lake and deemed representative of has proven to be the best bait. A total of 297 lake-wide nearshore habitat conditions were Northern Madtoms were sampled in 2016, the sampled for three ten minute transects each. most ever sampled! Northern Madtoms have very During the first and third ten minute transect all specific habitat and water quality requirements, observed fish were netted, identified, and making them a sensitive indicator of environmental measured to the nearest inch. During the middle quality. The high catch rates of 2016 suggests ten minute transect only age-0 Muskellunge were high quality habitat conditions exist in the St. Clair netted as part of a Muskellunge recruitment index River at this time. initiated in 2015.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 6

Fish Tagging Studies average, recaptured Smallmouth Bass tagged during 2002-2016 traveled 8.2 km (5.1 mi) from the The MDNR uses a number of different tagging Anchor Bay tagging site. A total of 38 non-reward methods that are dependent upon the type of fish tags placed on smallmouth bass captured with being tagged and the purpose for tagging, which electrofishing near the Mile Roads in Lake St. Clair can include estimating fish abundance, growth, during 2016 were recovered by anglers for a mortality, exploitation, and movement. The tags single-season reporting rate of 8.7%, more the most commonly used by the MDNR in the St. Clair- double the 3.9% single-season reporting rate Detroit River System and Lake Erie are metal tags observed for nearby Anchor Bay smallmouth bass located on the jaw of Walleye and Smallmouth during 2015. Bass or on the dorsal fin of Lake Sturgeon. Angler cooperation is an essential component of fish One Smallmouth Bass tagged in Anchor Bay was tagging programs, and all anglers are encouraged recovered from Whitmore Lake in Washtenaw to report tagged fish by filling out the on-line form County in 2011 (Figure 16). As there is no available at connection between the two water bodies this fish http://www.michigandnr.com/taggedfish/. was illegally transported from Lake St. Clair to Whitmore Lake and released, where it was Lake Erie subsequently recaptured and reported. Anglers are reminded that the unauthorized transfer of fish Michigan placed Walleye tagging in Lake Erie on from one water body to another poses significant indefinite hold in 2011. During 2016, three tag risks, particularly for introduction of diseases such returns were reported from fish previously tagged as viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS; the illness in the Huron River at Flat Rock. The long-term responsible for large fish die-offs in the Great distribution of tag recoveries from Walleye tagged Lakes region as recently as spring 2017). in the Huron River at Flat Rock show that these fish tend to be captured along the south and A total of 3,097 Lake Sturgeon have been tagged western shores of Lake Erie, in the Detroit and St. and released in the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair rivers, and on Michigan’s side of Lake St. Clair since 1996. To date, 664 tagged Lake Clair (Figure 16). In contrast to the localized Sturgeon have been recaptured with survey gear movements of Smallmouth Bass tagged in Lake or reported by fishermen. A total of 429 tagged St. Clair, recoveries of tagged Lake Erie Walleye sturgeon have been recovered with survey continue to provide evidence of substantial setlines in the North Channel. One was recovered movement from spawning locations in Lake Erie in a survey trap net in Anchor Bay, while 13 have through the connecting waters of the St. Clair- been recaptured in assessment trawls on Lake St. Detroit River System. For example, recoveries of Clair. Sport anglers have reported 188 recoveries, Walleye tagged at the Huron River in Flat Rock nearly all from the North Channel of the St. Clair show they have travelled to the Detroit River, Lake River, except for one reported from Lake Erie, near St. Clair, the St. Clair River, and even southern Huron, Ohio. Twenty-five recoveries have been Lake Huron. However, it is obvious from tag reported from the Ontario commercial trap net recovery patterns that other individuals from the fishery in southern Lake Huron, approximately 70 Lake Erie spawning stocks migrate within that km (43.5 mi) from the tag site. All other recaptures lake, travelling as far as the Central and Eastern have occurred within 10 km (6.2 mi) of the tag basins. sites.

Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River Sport Fishing Regulations

Since 2002, a total of 4,958 Smallmouth Bass Walleye in Lake Erie are managed cooperatively captured in survey trap nets in Anchor Bay have with other jurisdictions under a harvest quota been tagged and released. Smallmouth Bass system. Beginning in 2011, the Walleye daily bag movements are rather localized, with nearly all the limit for anglers in Michigan waters of Lake Erie is Smallmouth Bass tag recoveries reported to date directly related to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) coming from the Michigan waters of Lake St. Clair. for Walleye determined by the Great Lakes The northernmost Smallmouth Bass tag recovery Fishery Commission Lake Erie Committee (LEC) has been from the Port Huron area of the St. Clair in late March. The table below provides the quota River, and the southernmost recovery came from thresholds used to determine the daily bag limit the Bolles Harbor area of Lake Erie (Figure 16). On under this new regulation. The Walleye daily bag

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 7

limit regulation will be effective from May 1 through The latest information on all of Michigan’s fishing the end of April in the following year. For 2017, the regulations, including those of the Great Lakes and LEC agreed upon a TAC of 5.924 million walleye, its connecting waters in Southeast Michigan, can with a Michigan quota of 345,000 walleye. This be found on-line at quota sets the Michigan Walleye daily possession https://www.michigan.gov/fishingguide. limit at 6 fish from May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018. The Michigan Walleye minimum size limit (15 Station News - 2016 inches) and season (open all year) for Lake Erie waters remain unchanged for 2017. In October 2016 Fisheries Research Biologist

Mike Thomas retired. Mike had served at the Michigan Walleye quota Daily bag limit Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station since August of 1992, and retired with 30 years of More than 108,364 fish 6 State service. Mike’s contributions to fisheries research have been significant and his expertise 96,958 to 108,364 fish 5 will be sorely missed. Best wishes for a happy 85,551 to 96,957 fish 4 retirement Mike!

74,144 to 85,550 fish 3 62,737 to 74,143 fish 2 less than 62,737 fish 1

In 2015, Michigan’s black bass fishing seasons were changed to provide year-round black bass fishing opportunities. Catch-and-immediate release black bass fishing is now legal all year. The possession season for Smallmouth and Largemouth bass fishing in the Michigan portion of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River is the third Saturday in June (June 17, 2017) thru December 31. The black bass possession season for the Michigan waters of Lake Erie opens on the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 27 in 2017).

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 8

2.5 5.0

2.0 4.0

1.5 3.0

1.0 2.0 Angler Angler hours (X1,000,000)

Number harvested (X1,000,000) 0.5 1.0

0.0 0.0 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Walleye Yellow perch Angler hours

Figure 1. Estimated harvest and effort for Michigan’s Lake Erie sport fishery, 1986-2016.

2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8

Fishkept per angler hour 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Walleye Yellow perch

Figure 2. Walleye and Yellow Perch harvest rates for Michigan’s Lake Erie sport fishery, 1986-2016.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 9

2006 2007 2005 3% 2004+ 3% 3% 2010 2009+ 6% 2011 2015 2008 2014 2% 1% 17% 3% <1% 2% 2012 6% 2009 2014 1% 43% 2010 6%

2013 30% 2013 2011 45% 16% 2012 13%

Walleye Yellow Perch

Figure 3.Year-class contribution to Michigan sport harvest for Walleye and Yellow Perch from Lake Erie in 2016.

12.0

11.5

11.0

10.5

10.0

9.5

9.0 Total length (in.) length Total

8.5

8.0

7.5

7.0 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Age 3 Age 4 Age 5

Figure 4. Mean length at age for sport-harvested Yellow Perch from Michigan’s waters of Lake Erie, 1991-2016.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 10

2009 2008 2007 2006 2004+ 2009+ 1% 1% 1% 1% 3% 2010 2014 2011 2% 2% 5% 2010 9% 5%

2011 11% 2014 44%

2012 2012 2013 11% 31% 51%

2013 22% Yellow Perch Walleye

Figure 5. Year-class contribution to Michigan sport harvest for Walleye and Yellow Perch from Lake St. Clair in 2016.

1.6

1.4

1.2

1

0.8

0.6

0.4

Fish harvested per angler hour angler per harvested Fish 0.2 WAE harvest/hr Mean WAE harv/hr YP harvest/hr Mean YP harv/hr 0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 6.Michigan Lake Erie charter boat harvest rates for Walleye and Yellow Perch, 1991-2016.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 11

1.2 WAE harvest/hr Mean WAE harv/hr

YP harvest/hr Mean YP harv/hr 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4 Fish harvested per angler hour angler per harvested Fish 0.2

0.0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 7. Michigan St. Clair-Detroit River System charter boat harvest rates Walleye and Yellow Perch, 1991-2016.

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000 Excursions

500

0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Lake Erie SCDRS

Figure 8. Reported charter boat excursions on Lake Erie and the St. Clair-Detroit River System, 1990- 2016.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 12

16

14

12

10

8

6

4 Muskellunge/100 Rodhours 2

0 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Figure 9.Lake St. Clair Muskellunge catch rate from Angler Diary program, 1985-2016.

90 80 70 60 50 40

Number of fish of Number 30 20 10 0 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 Total Entries Number over 30 pounds

Figure 10.Lake St. Clair Muskellunge entered in the Michigan DNR Master Angler Program, 1986-2016. Values for 1992-2016 represent combined regular and catch-and-release Master Angler categories.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 13

45

40

35

30

25

20 Number of fish of Number 15

10

5

0 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 Catch and keep Catch and release

Figure 11.Lake St. Clair Smallmouth Bass entered in the Michigan DNR Master Angler Program, 1986- 2016.

300

250

200

150 Number per net lift per Number

100

50

0

Figure 12.Average total Walleye catch per unit effort, by year, for Michigan Lake Erie index gill nets, 1978-2016.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 14

120

100

80

60 Number per net lift net per Number

40

20

0

Year class

Figure 13.Average yearling Walleye catch per unit effort, by year-class, for Michigan Lake Erie index gill nets.

Figure 14.-Length frequency distribution of select Lake St. Clair panfish species collected during the 2016 nearshore survey.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 15

10

9 LSC (trawls) 8 SCR (setlines) 7

6

5

4 Number of fish of Number 3

2

1

0 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 Total length (in.)

Figure 15.Length frequency distribution for Lake Sturgeon caught in 2016 with survey setlines (n=174, white bars) in the St. Clair River and bottom trawls (n=11, black bars) in Lake St. Clair.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 16

Smallmouth Bass

Walleye

Figure 16.  Geographical distribution of Smallmouth Bass tag recoveries (N=628) for fish tagged during 2002-2016 at the Anchor Bay site in Lake St. Clair (top map) and for all tag recoveries since 2003 for Walleye tagged during 1994-2010 in the Huron River (N=495, bottom map). Black dots represent the recovery location of individual fish.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 17

Table 1. Estimated harvest, harvest rate, effort, and released catch for Michigan's 2016 Lake Erie non-charter boat fishery. Two standard deviations in parentheses. Released numbers represent legal sized fish where applicable. Harvest Month rate Species Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Season (fish/hr) HARVEST Yellow Perch 2.430 159 1,937 20,252 119,218 357,807 484,149 234,261 1,217,783 (4.19) (276,058) Walleye 0.131 6,290 11,272 29,538 17,713 408 350 245 65,816 (0.19) (12,839) Channel 0.003 0 171 1,006 285 164 56 45 1,727 Catfish (0.02) (1,153) White bass 0.016 279 5,596 1,731 186 95 23 156 8,066 (0.05) (3,521) White Perch 0.007 0 382 1,195 415 127 1,173 374 3,666 (0.04) (2,671) Freshwater 0.001 0 25 36 221 11 39 0 332 Drum (0.004) (295) Smallmouth <0.001 4 36 131 0 0 0 0 171 Bass (0.003) (210)

Total Harvest 2.5893 6,740 19,516 53,907 138,038 358,612 485,790 235,081 1,297,684 (4.19) (276,395)

EFFORT Angler hours 24,849 61,445 92,386 89,460 89,412 99,837 43,791 501,180 (65,931) Angler trips 4,737 10,927 21,095 19,937 19,811 27,401 9,734 113,642 (14,917)

RELEASED Walleye 0.011 150 479 634 262 0 3,756 41 5,322 (0.011) (735) Largemouth 0.014 350 1,333 1,834 72 709 258 2,496 7,052 Bass (0.061) (4,077) Smallmouth 0.008 524 654 396 482 1,524 465 164 4,209 Bass (0.035) (2,309) Yellow 0.607 131 787 7,584 5,672 92,169 126,588 71,526 304,427 Perch (1.400) (92,192) White bass 0.261 3,556 62,729 28,990 11,690 8,449 8,863 6,333 130,610 (0.352) (23,243)

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 18

Table 2. Estimated harvest, harvest rate, effort, and released catch for the 2016 Lake St. Clair non- charter boat fishery. Two standard deviations in parentheses. Released numbers represent legal sized fish where applicable. Harvest Month rate Species Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Season (fish/hr) HARVEST Yellow Perch 0.135 2,412 5,062 3,602 14,719 15,254 17,643 15,805 74,497 (0.187) (22,491) Walleye 0.024 0 373 2,641 7,264 1,978 772 368 13,396 (0.043) (5,158) Bluegill 0.023 2,899 2,267 1,732 4,447 236 803 541 12,925 (0.054) (6,541) Pumpkinseed 0.011 498 3,494 200 1,483 36 0 400 6,111 (0.031) (3,704) Smallmouth 0.006 0 112 415 1,218 857 681 204 3,487 Bass (0.013) (1,612) Rock Bass 0.006 0 603 633 1,216 664 38 0 3,154 (0.022) (2,671) Largemouth 0.002 0 0 675 111 214 0 36 1,036 Bass (0.008) (1,016)

Total Harvest 0.213 6,304 12,281 10,730 30,690 19,738 20,273 17,642 117,658 (0.204) (24,530)

EFFORT Angler hours 15,564 73,111 103,299 171,698 68,696 96,413 24,676 553,457 (120,284) Angler trips 3,128 12,187 17,064 33,289 13,224 18,481 4,732 102,105 (22,467)

RELEASED Walleye 0.003 0 37 189 355 816 191 57 1,645 (0.008) (932) Largemouth 0.075 689 16,323 12,825 9,100 1,567 717 204 41,426 Bass (0.121) (14,579) Smallmouth 0.263 11,472 44,613 38,922 29,583 14,197 5,050 1,976 145,814 Bass (0.330) (39,693) Yellow Perch 0.334 1,870 6,081 9,473 53,761 36,143 52,628 24,747 184,703 (0.440) (52,972) Muskellunge 0.003 66 165 484 621 186 237 160 1,919 (0.007) (799)

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 19

Table 3.Total targeted harvest per hour, targeted harvest per excursion, number harvested, and targeted fishing effort (angler hours, trips, and charter excursions) for charter boats on Lake Erie, 2016. Total Catch Month catch per Species per Apr 1 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 1 Season excursion hour

Harvested Yellow Perch 7.32 163.6 0 0 0 1,139 8,134 10,682 10,796 30,751 Walleye 0.86 18.36 1,053 2,328 7,094 4,008 58 21 0 14,562 Small. Bass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Released Yellow Perch 8.02 179.3 0 0 0 224 745 808 1,179 2,956 Walleye 1.49 31.9 514 1,874 5,289 3,105 10 0 0 10,792 Small. Bass 0.58 7.33 0 0 0 20 0 0 2 22 Muskellunge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Angler hours 2,152 3,040 7,561 4,228 1,466 1,540 1,261 21,248 Angler trips 367 572 1,537 871 282 295 254 4,178 Charter excursions 109 149 342 200 62 66 59 987 1March and April values combined; October, November, and December values combined.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 20

Table 4.Total targeted harvest per hour, targeted harvest per excursion, number harvested, and targeted fishing effort (angler hours, trips, and charter excursions) for charter boats on the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair River, 2016. Total Catch Month catch per Species per Apr 1 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 1 Season excursion hour Harvested Yellow Perch 2.45 50.91 0 49 46 87 153 1,008 1,406 2,749 Walleye 0.53 11.34 4,602 2,482 530 264 243 0 24 8,145 Small. Bass 0.09 1.86 0 0 156 508 352 138 0 1,154 Muskellunge 0.00 0.01 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2

Released Yellow Perch 3.70 76.91 0 0 0 77 140 468 719 1,404 Walleye 0.65 13.70 1,073 543 52 3 4 0 16 1,691 Small. Bass 1.27 26.80 596 6,163 3,588 1,811 1,731 926 595 15,410 Muskellunge 0.16 3.51 0 0 298 387 200 157 184 1,226 Angler hours 9,508 7,582 6,055 5,255 4,169 3,000 3,128 38,697 Angler trips 1,574 1,243 910 816 638 455 461 6,097 Charter excursions 424 380 293 237 193 144 148 1,819 1March and April values combined; October, November, and December values combined.

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 21

Table 5.Commercial harvest (pounds sold) from Michigan waters of Lake Erie in 2016. Species Harvest (lbs.) % of total harvest Reported market value Common Carp 187,838 23% $52,595 White Bass 166,613 20% $103,300 Channel Batfish 155,315 19% $66,785 Goldfish 86,818 11% $86,818 Buffalo 73,119 9% $58,495 Quillback 69,213 8% $20,764 White Perch 35,708 4% $28,566 Bullhead Spp. 29,493 4% $17,991 Freshwater Drum 17,282 2% $5,357 Bowfin 2,333 0% $0 Sucker Spp. 705 0% $247 Gizzard Shad 0 0% $0 Grand Total 824,437 100% $440,918

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 22

Table 6.Commercial harvest (pounds caught) of selected species from Michigan waters of Lake Erie, 1982 to 2016. Bullhead Common Channel Gizzard Freshwater Sucker White White White- Year Buffalo Goldfish Quillback Grand Total Spp. Carp Catfish Shad Drum Spp. Bass Perch fish 1982 22,474 58 676,896 20,354 76,000 0 1,430 608 178 1,742 0 0 799,740 1983 7,837 997 622,604 28,990 665,000 0 1,510 3,555 185 12,042 0 0 1,342,720 1984 789 152 422,571 9,208 1,265,200 0 56,061 116 44 2,041 0 0 1,756,182 1985 7,885 7,340 738,857 9,253 878,000 0 80,018 905 1,378 4,764 0 0 1,728,400 1986 14,732 7,687 367,310 11,183 0 0 2,217 2,032 123 1,397 0 0 406,681 1987 17,814 4,462 685,395 39,603 0 551 1,062 1,825 88 4,142 0 0 754,942 1988 9,471 5,421 417,365 15,208 0 188 1,380 1,180 0 1,049 0 0 451,262 1989 19,549 3,572 194,320 11,481 0 2,951 568 0 0 991 0 0 233,432 1990 40,064 488 158,151 2,025 0 877 0 0 0 0 0 0 201 ,605 1991 0 704 206,244 1,941 0 466 6,894 0 0 19 8 0 216 ,276 1992 0 444 251,365 2,929 2,845 1,025 30,204 290 0 357 10 0 289,469 1993 0 844 238,805 9,152 395 501 28,175 4,206 0 1,180 0 0 283,258

1994 0 659 94,662 5,760 2,103 111 8,930 111 0 1,819 0 0 114,155 1995 0 827 329,262 16,168 23 517 66,013 39,673 436 1,850 64 0 454,833 1996 104 828 387,671 24,969 36,996 7,138 73,662 48,218 4,286 2,923 45 0 586,840 1997 91,877 744 325,433 17,936 24,494 10,497 33,937 8,823 72 7,306 4 0 521,123 1998 15,721 2,139 620,015 16,573 4,988 6,862 22,990 24,507 6,180 1,326 0 0 721,301 1999 25,894 7,050 211,055 7,561 6,200 0 0 265 1,945 23 0 0 259,993 2000 27,843 1,742 313,200 14,400 4,595 3,025 0 0 0 1,776 0 0 366,581 2001 24,393 1,197 185,495 16,328 55 8,281 310 2,935 0 492 0 0 239,486 2002 45,367 6,500 336,820 39,778 6,655 4,660 1,300 4,035 0 3,810 0 0 448,925 2003 9,350 900 65,020 7,890 0 0 2,150 0 0 0 0 0 85, 310 2004 18,883 1,650 97,380 23,600 5,120 0 3,400 0 550 1,973 0 0 152,556 2005 96,621 5,495 319,700 15,657 14,910 78,333 1,600 331 2,390 1,338 0 0 536,375

Lake Erie & LSC Fisheries Status - 23

Table 6. (continued) Commercial harvest (pounds caught) of selected species from Michigan waters of Lake Erie, 1982 to 2016.

Bullhead Common Channel Gizzard Freshwater Sucker White White White- Year Buffalo Goldfish Quillback Grand Total Spp. Carp Catfish Shad Drum Spp. Bass Perch fish 2006 85,269 7,277 378,123 42,931 52,382 67,171 5,030 7,876 1,410 5,237 796 10,693 664,195 2007 215,282 12,536 241,356 98,979 242,695 39,140 9,900 67,072 9,712 77,249 35,946 8,800 1,058,667 2008 142,726 31,969 204,881 71,385 134,008 84,361 2,257 137,304 11,244 98,041 56,867 0 975,043 2009 130,295 45,294 196,888 63,725 122,379 90,771 3,900 116,312 11,339 96,456 34,522 9,439 921,320 2010 68,511 47,612 191,321 64,913 0 77,550 107,037 130,533 7,919 37,021 19,524 963 752,904 2011 107,610 57,670 401,034 138,540 0 84,857 84,727 227,873 17,435 47,058 31,949 4,155 1,202,908 2012 221,255 24,450 507,305 129,666 110,800 57,015 93,296 136,679 12,520 96,916 26,070 6,436 1,422,408 2013 164,345 8,600 256,546 102,197 40,050 28,146 138,841 73,101 10,234 187,848 32,954 0 1,042,862 2014 136,743 7,556 353,979 117,835 31,800 34,054 70,180 81,734 1,500 172,126 42,646 0 1,050,153 2015 100,135 26,396 227,946 144,500 50 88,791 76,203 128,510 332 179,246 53,245 267 1,025,621 2016 73,119 29,493 187,838 155,315 0 86,818 69,213 17,282 705 166,613 35,708 0 822,104 G. 1,941,958 360,753 11,412,813 1,497,933 3,727,743 864,657 1,084,395 1,267,891 102,205 1,218,171 370,358 40,753 23,889,630 Total